Elevating Early Childhood Outdoor Pedagogy: Harnessing Schemas and Embracing Loose Parts

By Pavla Boulton and Amanda Thomas

This graduate/advanced undergraduate textbook introduces the concept of loose parts and investigates its use in the outdoor learning environment. Exploring affordance theory as an underpinning approach to outdoor pedagogy, the book will also introduce readers to schemas, explaining why these repeated patterns of children's play are so important as a window into their world. Loose parts are then discussed as a means of nourishing and nurturing children's schemas outdoors. The text offers a new lens for educators to observe children through, supporting child development and curriculum development via a holistic pedagogy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 303189782X
• ISBN13: 9783031897825
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 157 Pages